Patriotism—Below and Beyond the Call

By what yardstick do we measure patriotism in 2009? And by what consideration are the best interests of our country measured against personal interests? True to form, we all place our own lives high on any scale. We place our opinions on high. We place our love on high. And truly, we place our home lives high. But what about our home country?
Because we are proud to bring diversity into our experiment we naturally introduce differences into the melting pot. They are differences that make us stronger. They are differences that represent the very essence of why we are willing to stand up and declare ourselves a people free of conformity and a people willing to fight even among ourselves for the right to maintain above all the ideas and goals that our country holds so dear. It’s why, in the end, despite our differences, the one plan we could all agree on was despite how we get there that all roads for our self preservation and pride will always lead a patriot home. So why are so many today willing to forsake our country’s interests for other priorities that are not schooled in diversity, but willing divisions?
On October 2nd, the International Olympic Committee announced in the first round of eliminations that the city of Chicago Illinois in the “United” States of America will not be the host city for the games in 2016. Now, while this news should not have people jumping out of office windows, such news delivered to a healthy society is usually met by the citizens of the country that was eliminated with at least some degree of disappointment, even sadness. What one does not expect from any countries’ citizens is a willing exchange of being gracious in defeat, for gleeful.
But on that October morning, that is exactly what happened. Half our country did cheer and take with delight, enthusiasm and great pleasure the defeat of the “United” States. Comments from the de facto heads of modern day conservatism, along with its base, practically sang songs of celebration for what they claimed was a great day when America lost! And why were these people so fervent with their joy over this news? Because hatred and an unbalanced reason has decimated patriotism.
It seems almost a given that if the leader of a country chooses to assist in the representation of that same homeland in a bid to bring the Olympics to their doorstep for what once would have been a grateful and proud nation that it would be a no brainer. However, ‘no brainer’ describes, instead, the pattern of thought that was so outraged that a leader would represent the country he leads that these same people eagerly volunteered to turn against their own country.
Mr. Glenn Beck, with overwhelming joy, commented, “This is soooooooo sweet.”
At The Weekly Standard’s headquarters, there was cheering to the line “Chicago Loses.”
Ms. Michelle (I see terrorists’ scarves everywhere) Malkin tweeted, “Game over on Obamalympics. Next up, Obamacare.”
The Drudge Report wrote in bold lettering, “World rejects Obama: Chicago out in first round. The ego has landed.”
Mr. Limbaugh echoed The Drudge Report and with unbalanced joy added, “The worst day of Obama’s presidency, folks,” and went on to say, “For those of you… who are upset that I sound gleeful, I am. I don’t deny it. I’m happy. Anything that gets in the way of Barack Obama accomplishing his domestic agenda is fine with me.”
Eric Ericson of “Redstate” wrote, “Hahahahaha.”
Now, every one of these people so highly respected by today’s conservatives would tell you that their stomach turns and that their outrage is uncontainable were someone to burn the American flag in protest because of the country it stands for. So why the cheering at the country’s missed opportunity? If one curses those that would burn the symbol, then why is there applause at the loss of the product?
Extremism today has created a desire to be so hateful and spiteful that these same people have willingly and with enthusiasm now pitted Americans against America. For years I have heard these great “patriots” tell the country that there are elements out there that hate America, although all they supplied were differences of opinion as evidence. Today, these same people have completed that fantasy of rejecting the country, only they have become the players whom they once poorly, and without cause, criticized and they claim to be doing it for America.
It is a great and wonderful thing to wear as a lapel pin the flag of our country. In fact, some have claimed that a failure to do so by certain people represents disrespect to our nation. But to be a true patriot does not mean wearing such a pin on our lapels (see sleeves) but on the actions the wearer takes, and in this case, those more concerned with pins than country have truly failed the test. I am not sure where they buy their pins but the ones I own have never contained a disclaimer stating that a suspension of loyalty for obscene partisan politics is patriotism.

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